Boris Johnson has revealed he will campaign for Britain to leave the EU in a major blow to the Prime Minister.
The decision by the London Mayor ends months of speculation over which side he would support and represents a huge coup for the Leave campaign, given his broad appeal among voters.
Mr Johnson said he came to his decision after a "great deal of heartache" but that he wanted "a better deal for the people of this country".
While he said David Cameron had done "fantastically well" in a deal he reached with Brussels he added no one "could realistically claim that this is fundamental reform of the EU".
Speaking outside his home, Mr Johnsonu said: "The last thing I wanted was to go against David Cameron or the Government, but after a great deal of heartache, I don't think there's anything else I could do.
"I will be advocating Vote Leave...because I want a better deal for the people of this country to save them money and to take back control."
David Cameron had made a last-ditch plea for the Conservative MP to campaign for the UK to remain part of the 28-member bloc.
Speaking on the BBC earlier, the PM said: "I will say to Boris what I say to everybody else which is that we will be safer, stronger and better off inside the EU.
"I think the prospect of linking arms with Nigel Farage and George Galloway in a leap into the dark is the wrong step for our country and if Boris and others really care about getting things done then the EU is one of the ways that we get things done."
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